Michael Matthes began his studies with Nicole Delannoy on piano, and then studied organ at the National Conservatory of Rueil-Malmaison with Marie-Claire Alain and Susan Landale. In 1983, he entered the class of Odile Pierre at the Conservatoire National Supérieur of Paris.

During that time, he also worked on improvisation with Pierre Cochereau, as well as analysis, harmony, counterpoint, and the fugue with Yvonne Desportes and Marcel Bitsch. After obtaining several first prizes, he perfected his organ skills under Pierre Labric.

Laureate of the G. Cziffra Foundation in 1986, he received the foundation's 1987 Gold Medal from the hands of the world-renowned pianist himself. The same year, at age 19, he became the youngest soloist of Radio France, and he gave his first recital at the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris.

Thus began his career as an international concert artist. He participated in several prestigious festivals (Villa Medicis in Rome, Radio France in Montpellier, Saint Bertrand de Comminges, and Darmstadt. On the international scene, he has represented the French organ school in performances in the United States, Russia, Hungary, and Turkey as well as other European countries.

After working with Jean-Jacques Grunenwald, Jean Langlais and Olivier Messiaen, his passion for 20th century French music grew to the point that it gave direction to his career. Today he is considered as one of the most brilliant performers in the tradition of the prestigious French organ school of the 20th century established by Marcel Dupré. In 1991, he gave the world première performance of the complete organ works of Marcel Dupré in a series of nine concerts.

Michael Matthes has been titular organist of the great organ of the Cathedral of Troyes, France, since 2000, and he is professor of organ at the Conservatoire National in Troyes.

In 2007, Michael Matthes was awarded the title of “Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres” (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) by the French government.